Bahá’í World/Volume 14/The Hands of the Cause of God

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[Page 445]

II

THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED BY Bahá’u’lláh

Hájí Mullá ‘Ali-Akbar-i-Shahmirzédi, known H'ji Mirzá Muhammad Taqiy-i-Abhári,

as Hájí Aflénd known as Ibn-i-Abhár

Mirzá Muhammad-Hasan, entitled Adibu’l— Mirzá ‘Ali-Muhammad, known as Ibn-i-Asdaq ‘Ulamé, known as Adib

“The Hands of the Cause, of Bahá’u’lláh’s days, will be known to the friends by name when the history of the Cause in Persia and the Near East is written and available.” (Letter written by the Guardian’s secretary on his behalf.)

445

[Page 446]446 THE Bahá’í WORLD

BELIEVERS REFERRED TO BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHA AS HANDS OF THE CAUSE

Q}. 53" ~ A?

Aqé Muhammad-i-Qá’im’, known as Mirza’. ‘Ali-Muhammad-i-Varqé, the martyr NabiI-i-Akbar

shayfl Muhammad-Ridéy—i-Yazdi

Mullá Sádiq-i-Muqaddas, entitled Ismu’lláhu’l-Asdaq

“You have asked me about the Hands: The Hands are persons appointed by the Pen of the Most High [Bahá’u’iléh], or addressed with such an appellation by the Pen of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. and honoured by Him with such a title. Any one of the Hands who is firm in the Covenant is the genuine bearer of this title.” (Translated into English from a Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.)

Editor’s note: Those referred to as Hands of the Cause in Memorials of the Faithful, by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 5, are listed above.

[Page 447]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 447

HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED POSTHUMOUSLY BY SHOGHI EFFENDI

Hájí Abu’l-Hasan, the Trustee of John E. Esslemont Huqfiqu’lláh, known as Hájí Amin

Louis Gregory Keith Ransom-Kehler

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THE BAH

448

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tafa’. Rfim

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Martha Root

Wilhelm

Roy C

-Ja1i1 Bey Sa (1

‘Abdu’l

[Page 449]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 449

John Henry Hyde—Dunn Muhammad Taqiy-i-Isfahéni

FIRST CONTINGENT OF HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI

(DECEMBER 24, 1951) f”? K

Dorothy B. Baker“ Amelia E. Collins*

‘ Deceased.

[Page 450]450 THE Bahá’í WORLD

‘Ali-Akbar Furfitan Ugo Giachery

Hermann Grossmann Horace Holley*

‘ Deceased.

[Page 451]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 451

Leroy Ioas* William Sutherland Maxwell*

Tarézu’lláh Samandari George Townshend*

• Deceased.

[Page 452]452 THE Bahá’í WORLD

Valiyu’lláh Varqé*

SECOND CONTINGENT OF HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI

(FEBRUARY 29, 1952)

flu‘é‘u’lláh ‘Alá’í Mfisé Banéni

‘ Deceased.

[Page 453]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 453

Clara Dunn" @ikru’lláh Khádem

Adelbert Mfihlschlegel Siegfried Schopflocher*

" Deceased.

[Page 454]454 THE BAH ”i WORLD

2: Corinne True*

HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED SINGLY BY SHOGHI EFFENDI

' Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum J alél @ézeh (March 26, 1952) (December 7, 1953)

• Deceased.

[Page 455]455

HANDS OF THE CAUSE

.m.)

5 wm mm, mm mm Mm r.0 Mm

Paul E. Haney (March 19, 1954)

Alexander

(March 27, 1957)

Agnes B

[Page 456]456 THE Bahá’í WORLD

FINAL CONTINGENT OF HANDS OF THE CAUSE APPOINTED BY SHOGHI EFFENDI (OCTOBER, 1957)

Hasan M. Balyuzi John Robarts

[Page 457]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 457

J ohn Ferraby H. Collis Featherstone

Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir Abu’l-Qásim Faizi

Charlllzdeason Remey was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi among the first contingent and was subsequently expe .

[Page 458]

were photographed with the members of the Universal House of Justice at Bahjí’ where they gatheredfor prayers before the departure of the Hands of the

Cause for Adrianople. (Left to right: Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. David Hofman, Dr. Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím, Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin; the Hands of the Cause

‘Abu’l—stim Faizz’, Tara'zu’lláh Samandart’, Ugo Giachery, Amatu’l—Bahá Rzilziyyih K_ha'num, Paul E. Haney, ‘AIi-Akbar Furu’tan; Mr. Amoz Gibson, Mr. Ian Semple, Mr. ‘Ali Nak_hjavdm', Mr. Hu$mand Fatheazam, Mr. Charles Wolcott.

8917

amom t‘vaa 3H1.

[Page 459]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

459

I. THE INSTITUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

Adapted from Bahá’í J ournal of the British Isles, November 1965

DURING the last years of Bahá’u’lláh’s ministry the work of the Cause expanded greatly, centres were multiplying, and correspondence greatly increased. It was during this period that Professor E. G. Browne of Cambridge was granted his four successive interviews with Bahá’u’lláh during the five days he was His guest (April 15—20, 1890).1 In that same year Bahá’u’lláh’s tent, the “T abernacle of Glory”, was raised on Mt. Carmel and it was during this period that a few of His followers were appointed as “Hands of the Cause of God”, one of the “preliminary steps aiming at the disclosure of the scope and working of this Administrative Order”."‘

In the Tablet of Tajallz’ydt Bahá’u’lláh addresses one of those whom He appointed as a Hand of the Cause:

“0 ‘Ali Qabl—i—Akbar! We have heard thy voice repeatedly, and We have responded to thee in that which the sayings of the world cannot equal, and from which the sincere ones find the perfume of the utterance of the element One, the lovers the fragrances ofunion, and the thirsty one the murmur of the kawmar of life. Blessed is he who attains thereto and discovers thatsweetfragrance which isnowbeingdzfihsed from the Pen of God, the Protector, the Mighty, the Bestower! . . .”

And further in that same Tablet:

“Blessed is thy face, for it turned unto Our direction; thine ears, for they heard, and thy tongue, for it uttered the praise of God, the

‘ Lord of Lords! We beg of God to make thee a banner for assistance of His Cause, and to draw thee nearer unto Him under all circumstances. We make mention of the friends of God and His beloved ones in that place, and We gladden them through that which is revealed unto them from the kingdom of the utterance of their Lord, the King of the Day of Judgement.

Remember them on My part, and illumine

them with the lights of the orb of My utterance. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Gracious.”a

Surely we may read in these words a confirmation of Bahá’u’lláh’s love and trust, and a lovinginstruction to one who had been appointed by Him to the station of service, a Hand of the Cause of God. '

Bahá’u’lláh exhorts the Hands of the Cause to “illumine them (the friends) with the lights of the orb of My utterance” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament lays down very clearly their obligations. It is of interest to note that within the first few hundred words of His Will and Testament ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers to the Hands: ‘

“Salutation and praise, blessing and glory rest . . . upon the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God that have Diflused widely the Divine Fragrances Declared His Proofs Proclaimed H is Faith Published abroad His Law Detached themselves from all things but Him Stoodfor righteousness in this world Andkina'led the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts and souls of His servants; . . .”‘

In this beautiful passage ‘Abdu’l-Bahá expresses to the Hands His j 0y and praise for their work. Then further on in that same Will and Testament He reiterates in clear language their obligations:

“The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to difluse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men, and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.”6

Although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did not appoint Hands of the Cause in His lifetime, He referred in writing to a few believers as “Hands”. He

[Page 460]460

,r

1 WORLD

THE BAHA

mfis: 9 m;

The Hand of the Cause Amatu’l—Baha' Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Mrs. Violette Nal_c_hjavdni with the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, May 26th, 1967, in New Delhi.

indicated in His Will and Testament that the Guardian of the Cause of God would make such appointments:

“Ofriends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God. All must be under his shadow and obey his command. Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God.”3

The Guardian appointed the first twelve living Hands in December, 1951 , “equally allocated Holy Land, Asiatic, American, European continents. . .”7

It is important to realise that this long-deferred step was taken in conjunction with six steps that were “greatly accelerated through series of swiftly succeeding events originated in World Centre of Faith.”

These six steps (given in detail in Messages to the Bahá’í World, pp. 19—20) were momentous; in the words of the Guardian:

“Opening years of the second epoch of the Formative Age now witnessing at long last commencement of third vast majestic fateIaden proéess following two above-mentioned developments destined through gradual emergence of the manifold institutions in World Centre of the Faith as crown of the administrative structure of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Order.” 3

Again it is important to realise that the first “four Conferences embracing eleven National Assemblies in all continents of globe” were attended by Hands of the Cause of God as representatives of the Guardian. You can now see how clearly the Guardian foresaw these unfolding events when you read in GodPasses By, written in 1944, the words quoted at the beginning of this article: one of the “preliminary steps aiming at the disclosure of the scope and working of this Administrative Order. . .”

Then in February 1952 a further seven Hands were appointed, raising the number to nineteen, and in this message the Guardian mentions specifically twofold sacred functions:

[Page 461]HANDS OF THE CAUSE 461

The Hand of the Cause Tara'zu’lla’h Samandarz’ breaking ground for the New Era High School, Panchgani, India, March 12th, 1967.

The Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga (left of centre) with the friends attending the first National Convention of the Indian Ocean, Port Louis, Mauritius, Riḍván 1 96 7.

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“Members august body invested in conformity with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Testament, twofold sacred function, the propagation and preservation of the unity of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, and destined to assume individually in the course of time the direction of institutions paralleling those revolving around the Universal House of Justice. . .”’

In December 1953” a further appointment was made to the ranks of the Hands of the Cause and it was in May of that same year that the Guardian sent a message to the Wilmette Intercontinental Conference:

“. . . Let there be no mistake. The avowed, the primary aim of this Spiritual Crusade is none other than the conquest of the citadels of men’s hearts. The theatre of its operations is the entire planet. Its duration a whole decade. . . Its Marshal is none other than the Author of the Divine Plan. Its standardbearers are the Hands of the Cause of God appointed in every continent of the globe. Its generals are the twelve National Spiritual Assemblies participating in the execution of its design. . ."11

In March 1954 a further appointment to the ranks of the Hands of the Cause was announced

THE Bahá’í WORLD

and finally, the Guardian in his last message to the Bahá’í world, of October, 1957, appointed a further eight Hands of the Cause, thus raising their number to twenty—seven. It was in this same message that the designation “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth” was given them, thus investing them with the authority they were, unbeknown, to need. In the words of the Guardian

“. . . who have been invested by the unerring Pen of the Centre of His Covenant with the dual function of guarding over the security, and of ensuring the propagation, of His Father’s Faith.”12

From 1951 the Guardian was creating this truly wonderful institution, carefully and slowly disclosing its functions, advising, guiding, not only the Hands, but the Bahá’í world so that, when the time came, we should understand their purpose and thus together face any problems that might come.

It was during March 1954 that the Guardian sent to all the Hands of the Cause and National Spiritual Assemblies of the world a message in which the Auxiliary Boards were mentioned for the first time:

“Greatly value their (Hands) support in

The Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander (centre front) with the friends attending the seventh

National Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia, Tokyo, Japan; May, 1963.

[Page 463]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

463

21 ' :- 7n;

The Hand of the Cause thkru’lláh Lhda’em with Auxiliary Board member Curtis Kelsey (right)

at the Church of the Divine Paternity, New York, where, on May 19th, 1912, ‘Abdu’l—Bahd

addressed the congregation. Mr. flddem led a walking tour of the important places visited by

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the City of the Covenant on the occasion of the observance of the fiftieth

anniversary of the revelation of the T ablets of the Divine Plan. Approximately three hundred Bahá’ís participated in the observance held on April 2nd and 3rd, 1966.

the erection of the Báb’s Sepulchre on Mt. Carmel; in reinforcing ties with the newlyemerged State of Israel; in the extension of the international endowments in the Holy Land; in the initiation of the preliminary measures for the establishment of the Bahá’í World Administrative Centre, as well as in their participation in four successive Intercontinental Teaching Conferences; in their extensive travels in African territories, in North, Central and South America, in the European, Asiatic and Australian continents.

“This newly constituted body, embarked on its mission with such auspicious circumstances, is now entering the second phase of its evolution signalized by forging of ties with the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá’í world for the purpose of lending them assistance in attaining the objectives of the Ten Year Plan.””

Then follows the request to appoint Auxiliary Board members with other details con cerning arrangements. We need only note here the breadth and scope of the work of our Hands of the Cause and realise that from November 1957 to April 1963 these same Hands, so assiduously trained by the Guardian, were, with words of loving comfort, guidance, and support, indeed the ChiefStewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic world commonwealth. Only time will disclose the immensity of the burden they bore. But we can see quite plainly how the law of consultation worked the miracle of welding their hearts into one heart, their wisdom pooled to guide the Bahá’í world to victory. In the words of the Universal House of Justice in its 1963 Convention message:

“The Universal House of J ustice wishes to reaffirm at this time the tribute which it felt moved to pay to the Hands of the Cause of God at the World Congress, those precious souls who have brought the Cause safely to victory in the name of Shoghi Effendi.”“

In its message of April 1964 announcing to

[Page 464]464 THE BAHA

the Bahá’í world the world-embracing Nine Year Plan, the Universal House of Justice refers to the Hands as the “standard bearers of the Nine Year Plan”:

“The standard bearers of the Nine Year Plan are those same divinely appointed, tried, and victorious souls who bore the standard of the World Crusade, the Hands of the Cause of God, whose advice and consultation have been invaluable in the working out of this Nine Year Plan. Supported by their ‘deputies, assistants, and advisers’, the members of the Auxiliary Boards, they will inspire and protect the army of God, lead through every breach to the limit of available resources, and sustain those communities struggling over intractable or stony ground, so that by 1973 the celebrations befitting the centenary of the revelation of the Most Holy Book may be undertaken by a victorious, firmly established, organically united world community, dedicated to the service of God and the final triumph of His Cause."15

From the foregoing passages we can, perhaps, understand just a little the vital role played by the institution of the Hands of the

I :3!‘ §

3

The Hand of the Cause Mu’sd Bandm’ as he appeared at the time of the Intercontinental Confer i WORLD

Cause, an institution initiated by Bahá’u’lláh Himself, whose members have collectively and singly, by their example, shown the world how the love of Bahá’u’lláh leads to the knowledge of God and the love of our fellowmen. They have by their example shown the Bahá’í world true consultation in action, and we have witnessed the victories that flow therefrom; have opened our eyes to the meaning of dedicated service to the Cause of God, and by their sacrifice of personal considerations have helped us to a greater understanding of the meaning of detachment.

It was the Hands of the Cause who from 1957 kept the light of the Guardianship guiding the Cause; it was they who deviated not an inch from his instructions, and by this act of wisdom, devotion and faith keptthelight of God’s infant Faith burning in our hearts with ever-increasin g intensity until the time when God’s divinely ordained institution, the Universal House of Justice, assumed the guidance of the Bahá’í world, a guidance therefore which has been continuous and uninterrupted for over one hundred years and will continue throughout the Bahá’í dispensation.

In November 1964 the World Centre of our Faith “was the scene of historic events, affecting

ence held in Kampala, Uganda, in October, 1967. On the left is Mrs. Bandni and on the right Mr. ‘Ali Nafljava’m’.

[Page 465]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

profoundly the immediate prosecution of the Nine Year Plan and the future development of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.” The Universal House of Justice in full consultation with the Hands of the Cause considered the “development of the institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, and after study of the sacred texts and hearing the views of the Hands of the Cause themselves,” arrived at the following decision: “There is no way to appoint, or to legislate to make it possible to appoint, Hands of the Cause of God.”“

Therefore, these few “precious souls” must be sustained with our love and prayers, but above all by our teaching activity so that the burden of their work is lightened and the years left to them can be devoted to the vitally important duties conferred upon them in the Holy Writings.

We must always remember that, just as we cannot “see” into another’s mind, so we cannot probe the mysteries of God’s inscrutable wisdom. The exalted rank and specific functions conferred upon the Hands of the Cause surround them with a spiritual power commensurate with their spiritual duties and we can be sure that Bahá’u’lláh is with them working in ways both mysterious and powerful to achieve the ends He has ordained.

465

The secret of the full functioning of our Administrative Order in all its parts is for each individual believer to be centred and firmly rooted in the Covenant. The Universal House of Justice gives us the key to firmness in the Covenant in its message of September 1964, a message deserving of particularly careful study. If only we could see with clear spiritual sight we should realise that the firmness in the Covenant of the individual believer affects the whole Bahá’í world; it is as if the light of Bahá’u’lláh shining in each one of us were welded into one light. The firmer we are in the Covenant, the brighter will be that efiulgence and that “power and vitality as yet unknown to us” will be gradually disclosed.

“Know this for a certainty that today, the penetrative power in the arteries of the world of humanity is the power of the Covenant. The body of the world will not be moved through any power except through the power of the Covenant. There is no other power like unto this. This Spirit of the Covenant is the real Centre of love and is reflecting its rays to all parts of the globe, which are resuscitating and regenerating man and illuminating the path to Divine Kingdom.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.17

References 1. GodPasses By, p. 194. 10. ibid. p. 55. 2. ibid. p. 329. 11. The Bahá’í World, vol. x11, 1). 136. 3. Bahá’í Revelation, pp. 152—153. 12. Messages to the Bahá’í World, 1950—1957, p. 127. 4. The Covenant ofBahd’u’l/a’h, 1963, p. 89. 13. ibid. p. 58. 5. ibid. pp. 101—102. 14. Wellspring of Guidanee, p. 5. 6. ibid. p. 101. 15. ibid. p. 26—27. 7. Messages to the Bahá’í World, 1950—1957, p. 20. 16. ibid. pp. 40—41. 8. ibid. p. 19. 17. The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, 1963. p. 71. 9. ibid. p. 21.

The Hand of the Cause William Sears (centre) during a visit to the Bahd’z's of T anzania at Dar—es—Salaam; January, I 96 7. Auxiliary Board member ‘Aziz Yazdi is seen in the left background.

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., .

The Hand of the Cause John Ferraby (centre front) with the friends attending the third national Bahd’z' Summer School, Larochette, Luxembourg,“ August, 1964.

‘ak" . 1.7.2

In September, 1965, the Hands of the Cause in Africa sponsored a conference attended by

members of their Auxiliary Boards and the National Spiritual Assemblies of South and West,

and South Central Africa. The Hands of the Cause Enoch Glinga and John Robarts are seen in the front row, third from left and thirdfram right, respectively.

[Page 467]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

467

2. THE WORK AND TRAVELS OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

FOR nearly five-and-a-half years following the tragic loss of the beloved Guardian, the Hands of the Cause of God, acting in their assigned role as Custodians of the Bahá’í Faith, had effectively managed the afl‘a irs of the Cause, bringing into being in 1961 the first elected International Bahá’í Council, guiding the Bahá’ís of the world toward the achievement of a triumphant conclusion of the Guardian’s Ten Year Crusade, calling for the election of the first Universal House of Justice, and providing for the celebration of the Most Great J ubilee in London at Riḍván, 1963.

Their sterling efforts during that awesome and critical period in the history of the Faith moved the Universal House of Justice to pay special tribute to the Hands of the Cause in its first message, on the occasion of the World Congress.l With the election of the Universal House of J ustice they could lay down the heavy administrative burdens which had been thrust upon them in November, 1957, and concentrate their energies on their specialized duties of protection and propagation.

It was decided that the five Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land would be Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Leroy C. Ioas, ‘Ali Akbar Furfitan, Paul Haney and Abt’l’l-Qásim Faizi. The other Hands of the Cause were assigned to the five continents, carrying out their functions personally and through their Auxiliary Boards.

Designated by the Universal House of Justice as “The Standard Bearers of the Nine Year Plan” the Hands of the Cause ranged far and wide throughout the Bahá’í world raising the call of service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, inspiring the believers and directng their labours toward the attainment of the prodigious goals assigned to the various National Bahá’í communities. Most of the Hands of the Cause built up very impressive records of travel. Notable among these were the journeys of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum to India, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, Europe and Central and South America. She

‘ For full text see p. 57 supra.

visited hundreds of Bahá’í communities, large and small; went to remote places which no Hand of the Cause and few teachers had ever dared visit before; met all manner of people, high and low alike, from the Maharajah of Sikkim and the President and Prime Minister of India down to the humblest Indian village believers, to the Amerindians in the far-ofl‘ San Blas Islands and in the high plateaus of Bolivia'. It was during this period that Amatu’l-Bahá. Rúḥíyyih Khánum released that precious volume The Priceless Pearl, an intimate and personally authoritative account of the life and work of the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, an abridged version of which appears in The Bahá’í World, vol. x111.

The Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas,1 though in failing health, nevertheless embarked upon an extensive teaching trip to the United States during the early months of 1964, attending the National Convention in Wilmette at Riḍván of that year.

The Hand of the Cause Ugo Gaichery transferred his residence from Europe to the United States in 1964, settling in southern California whence he was able to schedule many trips into Central America and the Caribbean area. He also travelled in Europe, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific area. It was Dr. Giachery who, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, presented The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Vatican, carrying out this mission by presenting the book to Cardinal Paolo Morella in Vatican City on April 9, 1968.

The Hand of the Cause Tarazu’lláh Samandari, the only living Hand of the Cause to have attained the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, was in his late eighties and early nineties during the period covered by this report. Displaying more vigour than most men many years his junior, J inéb-iSamandari’ travelled in almost every part of the northern hemisphere—North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, Pakistan, Europe, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, Canada and Alaska. He was one of the few authorities on the handwriting of Baha’ 1 Deceased July 22, 1965. See In Memoriam, p. 291 supra.

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The Hands of the Cause flu‘a‘u’lla’h ‘Ald’i and ‘AIi—Muhammad Varqa’ (front row, second from the right and the left, respectively) meeting with the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia in August, 1966. Seen in the centre of the photograph is Mr. H. Borrah Kavelz‘n.

w

Monument erected at Sydney, Australia, in 1966 to mark the resting place of the Hands of the

Cause Hyde and Clara Dunn who, in response to the call of‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets Of the

Divine Plan and with His cabled words “highly commendable” ringing in their hearts, settled in

S ydney in April, 1919. Upon both Father and Mother Dunn, as they were affectionately known,

rests the eternal honour of having established the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in the continent of Australia.

[Page 469]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

u’llah and His amanuenses, and when he was in the Holy Land he would spend much of his time identifying and classifying original manuscripts, letters and Tablets.

The Hand of the Cause A. A. Furfitan assisted with the pilgrimage programme whenever he was in the Holy Land, spending as much time with the pilgrims as his other duties permitted. He also undertook teaching trips to Turkey, Persia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. In 1967, at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia, Mr. Furfitan wrote a pamphlet answering the attacks made by the enemies of the Faith in that country.

The Hand of the Cause Hermann Grossmann, though in ill health much of the time during the period covered by this report, nevertheless made frequent visits to European centres and participated in summer schools.

The Hand of the Cause D_hikru’lláh 1(_hadem travelled extensively in the United States, Canada and Alaska, participating in many conferences and summer schools and attending several National Conventions, including the National Convention of the Hawaiian Islands in 1966.

The Hand of the Cause Shu‘a‘u’llah ‘Ala’i rendered invaluable services in Persia in connection with the management of the extensive properties of the Faith there, including many Holy Places, and in these matters he was frequently called upon to conduct important negotiations with the Persian government. His travels outside Persia included India, Algeria and Tunisia.

The Hand of the Cause Adelbert Mühlschlegel visitedliterally hundreds of European centres and attended many conventions, conferences and summer schools. His travels included Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, Switzerland, France, the Benelux countries, the Iberian Peninsu1a, Yugoslavia and Hungary.

The Hand of the Cause Mfisa Banani, called by the beloved Guardian “The Conqueror of Africa”, was forced by physical disabilities and poor health to carry on most of his work from his home in Kampala, Uganda. However, he was able to travel briefly to Tanzania, Kenya and the Holy Land. Notwithstanding his inability to travel, the indomitable spirit of Mr. Banani permeated the remotest parts of the continent he loved so dearly, and was a source of constant reassurance to the friends.

469

The Hand of the Cause J alél Khézeh made his headquarters in South America during the years 1963—1968, and travelled widely throughout that continent. He also visited centres in Persia and Europe as well as in North and Central America. He was very active in the teaching work, and was the initiator of a newsletter in Spanish which was published in Latin America and widely circulated.

The Hand of the Cause Paul Haney, together with his fellow Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land, was busily engaged in coordinating the work of the Continental Hands of the Cause and also assisted in the supervision of the pilgrimage programme. He travelled to many centres in Europe, Vietnam, Japan and the United States.

The Hand of the Cause ‘Ali Muhammad Varqé has acted as Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh since his appointment as a Hand of the Cause in 1955. He was active in the affairs of the Hands of the Cause in his native Persia and during the summers of several years he came to the Holy Land to assist in administering the affairs of the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land so that those regularly attending to these duties could be released for special teaching assignments or other duties abroad.

The Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander made her headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Her travels included visits to centres in Persia, the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Hawaiian Islands. In the summer of 1965, at the age of ninety, she suffered a fall and for the remaining years covered by this report was confined to hospital with a fractured hip. Despite pain and the restrictive nature of her disability, Miss Alexander maintained her usual cheerful spirit, receiving many Bahá’í visitors from all over the world.

The Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga, the only native African to have been appointed a Hand of the Cause, travelled in many countries in both East and West Africa during the years 1963 to 1968, transferring his residence to Kenya in 1963. Admired and loved as he is by his fellow African believers, he was spectacularly successful in other continents.

The Hand of the Cause William Sears served in both Africa and the Western Hemisphere. He was in Africa for a brief period in 1963 and early 1964, returning to the United States in February of that year. In 1966 he went to

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The Hand of the Cause Adelbert Mühlschlegel (fifth from the left) with the newly electedmembers of the' National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Switzerland ; Rig’vdn 1967.

E

The Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas was photographed shortly before his passing in 1965 at the

Shrine of the Báb, standing beside the octagon door named after him (Bdb-i-Ioas) by Shoghi

Effendi. The naming of the door was announced by the Guardian in a message to the Inter continental Conference in New Delhi, October, 1953, acknowledging Mr. Ioas’s “assiduous

constant care . . .” in supervising the construction of both the drum and the dome of the Shrine. (The Bahá’í World, vol. xii, p. 239.)

[Page 471]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

Africa once more when the Hand of the Cause John Robarts transferred his residence to Canada. Mr. Sears, in addition to his extensive travels in Africa, the United States and Canada, went to Australia in 1963 and to many European countries in 1967. He attended the summer school in Alaska in 1966. In 1965 and 1966 he figured prominently in the California Victory Campaign which proved to be a very effective mass teaching programme and launched a similar project in British Columbia, Canada.

In 1966, after more than thirteen years of pioneering and travelling in Africa, the Hand of the Cause John Robarts returned to his native Canada and took up residence in Rawdon, Quebec. While in Africa, he visited almost every part of that continent. He also travelled in Europe, the United States, Canada and Alaska.

Although his health did not permit travel, the Hand of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi devoted himself unstintingly to works of scholarship, undertaking extensive research preparatory to the completion of his volumes on the Central Figures of the Faith as well as a critique of the relationship to the Faith of the orientalist, the late Edward Granville Browne.

The Hand of the Cause John Ferraby travelled extensively throughout Europe, attending many summer schools, conferences and conventions.

The Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone bore the burden of responsibility for the whole vast Australian area (Australia, New Zealand, Papua, New Guinea and the islands of the South Pacific), traversing frequently its huge distances, visiting remote outposts, island groups, and attending conferences, conventions and summer schools, as well as participating directly in the teaching work. He also travelled in other areas, notably in Northeast

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Asia, Southeast Asia, Burma, India and Ceylon.

The Hand of the Cause Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir travelled to almost every part of the world. Making his headquarters in the Philippines, he travelled many times to Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and centres in Southeast Asia as well as to India and Ceylon. In 1965 he made an extensive tour of the mass teaching centres in South and Central America. When in the Holy Land at different times he helped with the cataloguing of some of the Tablets.

The Hand of the Cause Abu’l—Qásim Faizi made several extensive teaching trips, visiting centres in Europe, Asia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hawaii and the United States. He wrote many short stories, articles. plays and commentaries, and made a valuable contribution in translating Bahá’í books, including The Priceless Pearl, from English into Persian.

In addition to these continuous and worldembracing services, individual Hands of the Cause were called upon at various times to represent the Universal House of Justice at Conventions, Conferences and Dedications. These are set forth in separate listings in this section.

In its Riḍván message, 1967, the Universal House of Justice said of the Hands of the Cause:

“These few gallant and dedicated believers, whose place in history is forever assured by virtue of their appointment to their high office, are indeed a precious legacy left to us by our beloved Guardian, and as the years go by there is increasingly added to the honour and respect which is their due by reason of their exalted rank, the love and admiration of the friends evoked by their constant services.”

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'3 gt 5 ‘ i. 5:

The Hand of the Cause Jaldl K_ha’zeh (centre) with Auxiliary Board members Margot Worley and Hooper Dunbar at the fourth Regional Teaching Congress of South America held in Buenos Aires, Argentina; November, 1965.

Members of the Auxiliary Board in Europe, and other Bahá’ífriends, gathered at the home of

the Hand of the Cause Hermann Grossmann in March, 1968, to welcome the Hand of the Cause

Tardzu’llah Samandari. The three Hands of the Cause seated in the middle of the secondrow are, from left to right, Dr. Mühlschlegel, Mr. Samandarz' and Dr. Grossmann.

[Page 473]HANDS OF THE CAUSE

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3. HANDS OF THE CAUSE WHO REPRESENTED THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AT CONVENTIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES

Riḍván 1964

Northwest Africa—Tunis

West Africa—Monrovia

West Central Africa—Victoria

Uganda and Central Africa—Kampala Kenya—Nairobi

Tanganyika and Zanzibar—Dar-es—Salaam South Central Africa—Salisbury South and West Africa—Johannesburg Indian Ocean—Port Louis

Hawaiian Islands—Honolulu

South Pacific Ocean—Suva

South West Pacific Ocean—Honiara North East Asia—Tokyo Korea—Seoul

Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur

Indonesia—Djakarta Vietnam—Saigon Thailand—Bangkok

Philippines—Manila

Riḍván 1966

Brunei—Brunei

Riḍván 1967

Algeria and Tunisia—Algiers

Cameroon Republic—Victoria

Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique—Mbabane

Zambia—Lusaka (unable to attend—visa)

Leeward, Windward and Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie

Eastern and Southern Arabia—Bahrayn

Taiwan—Taipei (unable to attend—visa)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands—Tarawa

Laos—Vientiane

Sikkim—Gangtok

Belize—Belize

J ohn Robarts J ohn Robarts

Mfisé Banéni ML'lsé Banéni Enoch Olinga

Enoch Olinga Agnes Alexander

Collis Featherstone

Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir

Amatu’l—Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir

Collis Featherstone

flu‘é‘u’lláh ‘Alá’í William Sears Enoch Olinga Enoch Olinga

Ugo Giachery Tarézu’lláh Samandari Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir Collis Featherstone Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir Amatu’I—Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Ugo Giachery

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4. HANDS OF THE CAUSE WHO REPRESENTED THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AT CONFERENCES AND DEDICATIONS

Dedication of the Mother Temple of Europe at Frankfurt, West Germany—July, 1964

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Intercontinental Conferences—October, 1967

Panama City, Panama Amatu’l—Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Wilmette, Illinois, USA. Leroy Ioas—replaced by Tarézu’lláh Samandari

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Ugo Giachery

Kampala, Uganda ‘Ali-Akbar Furfitan

Frankfurt, West Germany Paul Haney

New Delhi, India Abu’l-Qásim Faizi

Laying of the Foundation Stone of the M other Temple of Latin America—Panama City, Panama—October, I 96 7

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum